This collection of 14 papers explores aspects of open education for middle level schools. The first paper challenges open educators to work for the reform of absurd and obsolete educational practices. The second discusses management of the open environment. The third investigates problems of linking learners and learning activities. Other papers in the collection discuss preconditions for learning, how to open up classrooms, a laboratory approach to learning, an eighth grade unit on exploration, discipline, and parent-teacher-student conferencing. A step by step procedure for opening classroom learning is outlined. A study is reported in which 42 student teachers in special classes rated the classrooms in which they were teaching to determine similarities and differences between regular and special classes on open or traditional characteristics. Issues in Piagetian research which might bear on education are discussed. Last, a study of parochial and public primary teachers' attitudes toward learning centers is reported. (Author/RH)